It doesn’t matter the medium: wherever successful and beloved properties can be found, the excitement and creativity that comes with a crossover isn’t far behind. And while the franchises whose heroes or fictional worlds most closely resemble eachother may be the most obvious to combine, the real magic happens when two different properties are fused into one, forcing those leading the charge to truly work their creative muscles – such is the case with the upcoming “Planet of the Apes/Green Lantern” crossover miniseries.
The six-issue limited series is the result of the partnership between DC Comics and BOOM! Studios, injecting some of the most recognizable faces in the classic Planet of the Apes movie series into the larger fabric of DC’s Guardians of the Universe and their ring-slinging officers. And to celebrate, we’ve got an exclusive variant cover paying homage to the first film’s most iconic scene.
The crossover story will be written by Robbie Thompson (“Silk”) and Justin Jordan (“Green Lantern”), and illustrated by Barnaby Bagenda (“The Omega Men”). And according to the official synopsis, a well-known intelligent ape will be stumbling into a millenia-old war that finds Sinestro himself in pursuit – and the Green Lantern Hal Jordan in a race to save the day:
When Taylor goes missing, Cornelius investigates and discovers an ancient ring, unlike anything he has ever seen. As its power echoes through the stars, the Guardians of the Universe must reveal to their Lanterns a secret they had hoped would remain buried. With the Green Lantern Corps, led by Hal Jordan, racing to get to the source of this power before Sinestro can get his hands on it, they will discover a truth that will change them forever on…the Planet of the Apes!
Our exclusive reveal of the movie poster homage variant cover by Steve Morris (“Buffy the Vampire Slayer”) shows the spirit in which the story is being shaped, shifting Cornelius from a face in the sky to the overcome here, and inserting the face of the villain Sinestro and a giant power battery where the Statue of Liberty once stood:
The main cover to the series’ first issue is coming (predictably) from famed “Green Lantern” artist Ethan Van Sciver. Variant covers will be illustrated by Paul Rivoche (“Batman ‘66”) and David Ryan Robinson (“Mighty Morphin Power Rangers”), and CBR has just revealed its foil-stamped cover by Felipe Massafera (“Wonder Woman”).
If the premise alone doesn’t do the job, all involved on both sides of the crossover are promising a fun, star-filled affair making the most of both properties. Now, for those whose knowledge of the Planet of the Apes may be restricted to the recent Andy Serkis-led film, or even the original movies (and the French novel upon which it was based), the comic’s take may be a different version.
While DC’s current “Green Lantern” mythology may be simple enough for casual fans to follow (Green good, Yellow bad), there’s no better time to take a look at BOOM!’s recent spin on the “Planet of the Apes” focusing on Cornelius, Zira, and the rest of the leading apes. Of course, with the tease that the Guardians of the Universe may know more about this planet – typically set centuries in the future of Earth – there may be just as many bombshells for Lantern fans, as well.
–
Print copies of “Planet of the Apes/Green Lantern” #1 will be available for sale at local comic book shops and the BOOM! Webstore on February 1, 2017. Digital copies will be available to purchase the same day on all major digital marketplaces, including comiXology, iTunes, Google Play, and Kindle.
